The Canadian Trucking Alliance has been supportive of the US EPA and Environment Canada’s regulatory approach to reducing the carbon footprint of operating trucking tractors and trailers.

However, in response to legal challenges and petitions filed by the U.S. trailer industry, on October 27, 2017, a U.S. Court of Appeals stayed the implementation of the U.S. EPA Phase 2 trailer provisions. As a result, the Canadian standards would come into effect ahead of the corresponding U.S. federal standards.

After consultation with the Canadian Trucking Alliance and other stakeholders, Environment Canada has issued an Interim Order Modifying the Operation of the Heavy-duty Vehicle and Engine Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations (the Interim Order) which was published in Canada Gazette, Part I, on June 15, 2019. The order is available here.

The purpose of the Interim Order is to delay the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for trailers in Canada by one year after the Interim Order is made, that is until May 27, 2020. This will allow the Department time to assess concerns from Canada’s trailer industry on potential adverse economic impacts if Canada proceeded to implement the trailer standards without the standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) being in force. The Interim Order does not affect any provisions related to the vehicle and engine standards of the Regulations.

“CTA appreciates Environment Canada’s commitment to fact-based policy making. This process will allow for an analysis to understand the impacts on the Canadian market without a similar rule being in place in the United States,” said CTA president Stephen Laskowski. “In the meantime, the bulk of the trucking equipment regulation and its positive impact remain in place, producing significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the trucking sector.”